Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
Indoor and Built Environment
This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Lugauskas, A.
Right arrow Articles by Jaskelevicius, B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

Micromycetes Hazardous to Human Health in Buildings of Various Age and Use in Vilnius

A. Lugauskas

Institute of Chemistry, A. Gostauto 9, LT-01108 Vilnius, Lithuania, lugauskas{at}chi.lt

B. Jaskelevicius

Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Sauletekio al. 11, LT-10223, Vilnius, Lithuania

In 2001—2005, the mycological condition of some brick, block and wooden buildings used for different purposes in Vilnius has been investigated. Micromycetes are isolated and identified from walls, ceilings, various pieces of equipment, air and dust. The majority of them belong to the Mitosporic fungi group. The degree of their spread and their potential hazard to those living, working or visiting the buildings are discussed. Factors stimulating the development and spread of micromycetes in the various buildings as well as measures to suppress or eliminate their development are examined. Improvement of the conditions in the premises is regarded as essential to reduce the hazard of clinical problems including respiratory disorders, asthma, allergies, skin diseases and mycoses.

Key Words: Micromycetes • Buildings • Dampness • Decay • Microfungi • Lithuania

References

  • Andersson JV: Humid buildings — the construction remedy: Indoor Built Environ 2003;12:217—219.[CrossRef]
  • Ignatavicius C., Ignatavicius G.: Investigation of damage and microclimate deterioration caused by dampness in the palace of Signatories to the declaration of independence: Indoor Built Environ 2005;14:89—95.[CrossRef]
  • Singh J.: Occupational exposure to moulds in buildings: Indoor Built Environ 2001; 10:172—178.[CrossRef]
  • Ghazi Wakili K., Frank Th: A humidity dependent vapour retarder in non-ventilated flat roofs. In situ measurements and numerical analysis: Indoor Built Environ 2004;13:433—441.[CrossRef]
  • Afshari A., Bergose NC: Humidity as a control parameter for ventilation: Indoor Built Environ 2003;12:215—216.[CrossRef]
  • Yik Fwh, Sat Psk, Niu JL: Moisture generation through Chinese household activities: Indoor Built Environ 2004;13:115—131.[CrossRef]
  • Kemp PC, Neumeister-Kemp HG, Murray F., Lysek G.: Airborne fungi in non-problem buildings in a southern-hemisphere Mediterranean climate: preliminary study of natural and mechanical ventilation: Indoor Built Environ 2002;11:44—53.[CrossRef]
  • Rylander R.: Humid buildings — the problem: Indoor Built Environ 2003;12:211—213.[CrossRef]
  • Tuomi T., Reijula K., Johnsson T., Hemminki K., Hintikka ET, Lindroos O., Kalso S., Koukila — KÄHKÖLÄ P, Mussalo-Rauhamaa H, Haahtela T: Mycotoxins in crude building materials from water-damaged buildings: Appl Environ Microbiol 2000;66:1899—1904.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Hodgson MJ, Morey P., Leung WY, Morrow L., Miller D., Jarvis BB, Robbins H., Halsey JF, Storey E.: Building-associated pulmonary disease from exposure to Stachybotrys chartarum and Aspergillus versicolor: J Occup Environ Med 1998;40:241—249.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Horner WE, Hebbling A., Salvaggio JE, Lehrer SB: Fungal allergens: Clin Microbiol Rev 1995;8:161—179.[Abstract]
  • Gelincik AA, Büyüköztürk S., Gül H., Güngör G., Issever H., Çagatay A.: The effect of indoor fungi on the symptoms of patients with allergic rhinitis in Istanbul: Indoor Built Environ 2005;14:427—432.[CrossRef]
  • Posniak M., Makhniashvile I., Kaziel E.: Volatile organic compounds in the indoor air of Warsaw office buildings: Indoor Built Environ 2005;14:269—275.[CrossRef]
  • Singh J.: Toxic moulds and indoor air quality: Indoor Built Environ 2005;14:229—234.[CrossRef]
  • Lugauskas A., Krikstaponis A., Seskauskas V.: Species of conditionally pathogenic micromycetes in the air of dwellings and occupational premises: Indoor Built Environ 2003;12:167—177.[CrossRef]
  • Horvey RJ, Schoemaker HE, Palmer JM: Lignin degradation by white rot fungi: Plant, Cell Environ 1987;10:709—714.
  • Juodis E.: Energy saving and airtightness of blocks of flats in Lithuania: Indoor Built Environ 2000;9:143—148.
  • Kaminskas A.: Building materials. The strategy of energy expenditure reduction in the building materials industry. Vilnius, Valgra, 2000 (in Lithuanian).
  • Kaminskas A.: The Energy Saving Technologies of Building Materials. Vilnius, VI Knygu naujienos, 2002 (in Lithuanian).
  • Lugauskas A (ed.), Bridziuviene D., Levinskaite L., Paskevicius A., Peciulyte D., Repeckiene J., Salina O., Varnaite R.: Microbiological Deterioration of Materials. Vilnius, UAB Valstieciu laikrastis, 1997 (in Lithuanian).
  • Lugauskas A., Sveistyte L.: Contamination of occupational and dwelling premises with micromycetes hazardous to human health; in Cygas D and Froehner KD (eds): Environmental Engineering, The 6th International Conference, Vilnius, Lithuania. 2005, pp. 171—175.
  • Lugauskas A., Paskevicius A., Repeckiene J.: Pathogenic and toxic micro-organisms in the human environment. Vilnius, Aldorija, 2002 (in Lithuanian).
  • Asan A.: Check list of Aspergillus and Penicillium species reported from Turkey: Turk J Bot 2000;24:151—167.
  • Bex V., Mouilleseaux A., Causse R., Squinazi F.: A survey of Aspergillus contamination in a hospital during renovation: Healthy Buildings 2000;1:359—364.
  • Johonning E., Biagini R., Hulb D., Morey P., Jarvis B., Landshergis P.: Health and immunology study following exposure to toxigenic fungi (Stachybotrys chartarum) in a water-damaged office environment: Int Arch Occup Environ Hlth 1996;68: 207—218.
  • Kalliokoski P.: Risks caused by airborne microbes in hospitals — source control is important: Indoor Built Environ 2003;12:41—46.[CrossRef]
  • Menetrez MY, Foarde KK, Webber TD, Betancourt D., Dean T.: Growth response of Stachybotrys chartarum to moisture variation on common building materials: Indoor Built Environ 2004;13:183—187.[CrossRef]
  • Zyska B.: Biological hazards in buildings. Warsaw, Arkady, 1999 (in Polen).
  • Acerinio P., Mussalo-Rauhamao H., Mäkinen-Kiljunen S., Saarela K., Laft S.: Indoor air problems in a healthcare centre — a case report of a follow-up: Indoor Built Environ 2005;14:433—441.[CrossRef]
  • Hoskins JA: Problems in deciding the effect of the airborne particulate load in hospitals on patient health: Indoor Built Environ 2003;12:69—72.[CrossRef]
  • James JP, Yang X.: Emissions of volatile organic compounds from several green and non-green building materials: a comparison: Indoor Built Environ 2005;14:69—74.[CrossRef]
  • Menetrez MY, Foarde KK: Microbial volatile organic compound emission rates and exposure model: Indoor Built Environ 2002;11:208—213.[CrossRef]
  • Menetrez MY, Foarde KK: Research and development of prevention and control measures for mold contamination: Indoor Built Environ 2004;13:109—114.[CrossRef]
  • Lange JH: Mould: the next environmental industry: Indoor Built Environ 2004;13:165—167.[CrossRef]
  • Quezada NV, Lange JH: Final clearance criteria after mould remediation: Indoor Built Environ 2004;13:199—203.[CrossRef]
  • Rautiola S., Reponen T., Hyväzinen A., Nevalainen A., Husman T., Vehviläinen A., Kalliokoski P.: Exposure to airborne microbes during the repair of moldy buildings: Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1996;57:279—284.[Web of Science][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Lithuanian hygienic standard HN 42: 1999. Microclimate of Residential and Public Buildings. Vilnius, Lithuanian Hygiene Institute, 1999 (in Lithuanian).
  • Juozaitis A., Willeke K., Grinshpun SA, Donelly J.: Impaction onto a glass slide on agar versus impingement into a liquid for the collection and recovery of airborne micro-organisms: Appl Environ Microbiol 1994;60:861—870.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
  • Claus D., Berkeley Rcw: Genus Bacillus Cohn 1872. In: Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. Sneath PHA, Mair NS, Sharpe ME, Holt JG. (eds). Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 1986, pp. 1105—1139.
  • Smirnov VV, Kiprianova EA: Bacterii roda Pseudomonas: Kiev, Dumka Naukova, 1990 (in Russian).
  • Schloter M., Lebuhn M., Heulin T., Hartmann A.: An ecology and evolution of bacterial microdiversity: FEMS Microbiol Rev 2000; 24:647—660.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
  • Mirchink TG: Soil Micology Moscow, MGU, 1988 (in Russian).
  • Rudenko AB, Koval EZ, Ryzhko PP, Zaplavskaja EA: Onychomycoses of population of Ukraine. Kiev, OOO ``TCK'', 2001 (in Russian).
  • Palfreyman JW, Smith D., Low GA: The use of representative modelling to test the efficacy of environmental control treatments for the dry rot fungus Serpula lacrymans: simulating the infection and the treatment of flooring timber: Intl Biodeteriorat Biodegradat 2001;47:27—36.[CrossRef]
  • Bech-Andersen J.: Indoor Climate and Moulds. 2nd edn. Hussvamp Laboratoriet Publishers, Holte, Denmark, 2004.
  • Wanner HU, Verhoeff A, Colombi A, Falannigan B, Grovesen S, Mouillesaux A, Nevalainen A, Papadakis J, Seidel K (eds): Biological Particles in Indoor Environments: 1993, Reports N12. Commission of the Europe Communities. Brussels- Luxemburg. p. 83.

Indoor and Built Environment, Vol. 16, No. 4, 358-370 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1420326X06081097


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?



This Article
Right arrow Abstract Freely available
Right arrow Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Lugauskas, A.
Right arrow Articles by Jaskelevicius, B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?